Former Indian cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi has made a statement recently stating that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should remove the word ‘control’ from its name. The harsh statement came in after the board failed to get clearance for resumption of India-Pakistan cricketing ties. He feels that the Indian cricket board has made all this a political matter which shouldn’t have happened.

BCCI recently gave the clear signal that cricketing ties with the arch-rivals cannot resume till the relations between the two nations do not improve in a drastic manner. They also clarified that India will not play Pakistan in the newly introduced World Test Championship, scheduled to start in 2019. Many former cricketers including Bedi revealed their personal views on this issue.

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Cricket is not a political matter

Former spinner Bedi believes that the sport should not be a thing of political discussions. He admitted that by not playing cricket with Pakistan, terrorism cannot wiped off. The former cricketer also spoke that how the game helps everyone to come close to each other in different situations.

“Why politicize cricket? Have you been able to wipe off terrorism by not playing cricket? Cricket is a platform to come closer. This is not right. I am not talking anti-India if I am asking for a cricket series with Pakistan. Let’s not narrow down the meaning of patriotism,” said Bedi at a DDCA event as quoted by the Hindustan Times.

He went on to say that the BCCI should clear away the word ‘control’ from its name as the board is not doing justice to it by their regular activities. The cricketer mentioned that the players are playing for the country and not for the BCCI. He made his point clear and also suggested the new name for the cricket board.

“The national logo (India flag) has to be worn by the Indian team and not the BCCIlogo. I am very clear in my mind. The players are not playing for BCCI but are playing for India. New Zealand and Australia have national emblems. England has national emblem. Even Pakistan and Bangladesh wear national emblems. Let me be very clear. Indian Cricket Board (ICB) or Cricket India should be the name,” he added.